Rev. Bryan Findlayson, 1978-89

Bryan Findlayson, with his wife Doreen and children, Marelle, Paul and Justyne, were appointed as Minister in charge of the new district by Archdeacon Harry Goodhew, on March 3, 1978. There were some doubts that the district would survive financially. Sacrificial giving by the two congregations overcome any problems. In 1978 combined offertories were $8,000. By 1981 the offertories reached $16,000.

A youth work was commenced. Junior Club led by Steve and Anne James and Ray Tinker, commenced at the Stanwell Park Surf Club, 3rd term, 1977. It attracted some 90% of the Stanwell Park senior primary children. This was extended to a senior group and a youth fellowship at Ray Tinkers home on Sunday evenings. At Helensburgh a Friday night junior high school club got underway with the name, The Jesus Light and Power Co. By 1981 the old all was decked out with 3 pin ball machines, a video twin racer, pool table, table tennis, shop and coffee tables. A Junior Burghers club was commenced as an after school activity on Wednesdays during school term. Numbers were in the 50's and it was an all out effort for the dedicated team of leaders. A senior high group, "Reunion Blues" functioned for graduates of the Jesus Light and Power Co. Transport was via 50 seat buses owned by the youth clubs. Two buses later, John Onames, the local bus company proprietor, loaned us his buses. Sadly, even one of these blew up while on a club outing.

The Parish paper was "The Messenger" was recommenced and Bryan prepared monthly articles in the Park Parade called "Just a Moment". Both churches were involved in the 1979 Billy Graham crusade. In 1980 Steve James and Ray Tinker transformed the annual Carols by candlelight into an Christmas "Spectacular" with junior choir, soloists and mini orchestra. Annual houseparties commenced in 1979, held initially at Gerroa. A Men's breakfast met regularly on Saturday mornings, a Discipleship group commenced, a ladies craft group was commenced, a children's choir, and Bible Studies, Sunday School and ladies groups continued as before. The newly prepared Australian Prayer Book was introduced at both Helensburgh and Stanwell Park in 1980.

Building activities were undertaken at both churches. At Helensburgh the interior was remodelled in 1979 and new layout and fellowship room completed in 1981. A toilet block was constructed in 1980 and the historic pan loo ceremonially burn down at the 1981 fete by Leigh Benger. The new toilets were opened when Messrs. Higgins, Duffy, Hamonds and Furner cut the ceremonial toilet-paper ribbon. Plans for a new rectory got under way in 1981 but were delayed for over a year by the diocesan architectural panel. A new design kit home was finally approved for the third block, being narrow and long to give maximum space for the building of a new church on the original rectory site. The Walker St. rectory was sold and the funds used to build the new rectory under the guiding hand of Jeff Lee and Collin Adams and to pay for a deposit on the purchase the spare land beside the Helensburgh church for $28,000. The purchase was just completed as land prices in Helensburgh touched the $40,000 mark. A Curate's cottage was then constructed on this site using voluntary labour and contractors under the guiding hand of Jeff Lee. A loan was obtained for the building and on completion, was rented to pay off the loan. Behind the Rectory, using the same bricks and roof line as the Rectory, a garage for the rector and a small Op Shop was constructed again using voluntary labour. Les Carett and his team was employed to do the brickwork. At Stanwell Park the congregation decided to build a new church behind the existing church which would now became the church hall. In 1979 plans were submitted to the architectural panel, but were rejected. Final approval was gained in 1980 when the congregation agreed to the removal of two supporting posts which sadly increased the cost of the project by some $5,000. - The Wollongong Council approved the building in 1981 and with the existing building fund of some $10,000 and a $10,000 loan, the new building was commenced with voluntary labour and subcontractors under the guiding hand of Roger Warner. The portal frames for the roof structure, now in steel, arrived in 1982. Sadly the bell town foundations gave way and the tower had to be rebuilt by Les Carett in 1983. The completed building in the shape of a kite is a most beautiful place of worship and loved by locals and congregation alike. New toilets and the renovation of the original church as a hall and meeting place, was completed in 1989 under the watchful eye and handy hand of Craig Knighton.

At Helensburgh some of the identities over this period were as follows: Ken Hammonds, the Rector's Warden. Ken was to die of a heart attack while on a Parish Houseparty - a terrible loss. "The Gentle Folk": Margaret Hammonds, Mary Higgins, Nova Duffy (who holds the record for the number of years of attending the Tuesday evening Bible Study), Nancy Furner, Pauline Luck, Ennis Fairbairn and Rona Powell who retired as the headmistress of the infants school in 1977. Mrs. Jeffreys the organist left the district in 1977. Cathy and Geoff Hammonds, Kath and Bill Sweeny (Bill was a retired miner), Edwina Brooks, Barbara and John Rands, Marj Foster, Geoff Cox who had handed out the books on Sunday since the 1930's and was the only person able to ring the bell rhythmically, Colin and Narelle Adams, Bruce and Lee King, Jeff and Jan Lee, Roger and Glennis Warner and family, Betty and Frank Marcey, Warren and Barbara Riley, John and Jean Parish and family who left for Canberra in 1982, Pam and Bill Johnson who owned the BP service station, Chris and Leigh Benger, Sid and Marilyn Moir, Marilyn became the church organist, Gail Davies, Jenny and Peter Mason, Marilyn and Steve Markham and family, Bob and Fran Grover and family who owned the Symbio animal park at Stanwell Tops, Rosemary Godfrey, Jeanette and Mark Patch, Clair and Doug Svensen, Greg Harris, Graham and Lydia Allard and family, Michael and Trish Croft and family, Amy and Mack McKay (Mack died in 1981 and Amy left the district in 1982), Stuart and Patricia Whelan and family, Kim and Ellen Crawford.

At Stanwell Park: Steve and Anne James and family, Chris and Judy Lambkin and family, Jean Anger, Norm and Stella O'Brien, Norm served with the Light Horse in Palestine, Marie and Ray Tinker and family, Reg and Carol Lobb and family, Michael and Julie Druce and family, Garry Laker, Wayne Bragg , David Anger, Eva Kinish, Mr. and Mrs. Thoad, Judith Short, Graham and Lydia Allard

The Findlaysons moved on in 1989. Bryan and Doreen to Braidwood while Bryan undertook further Biblical research before being appointed as Rector of St.Andrew's Cronulla. On retiring they moved back to Helensburgh. The children remained in Helensburgh, having become Burgh ites, although Paul was to die of a brain tumor and is buried in the Helensburgh cemetery.

Another working bee on the Helensburgh hall, this time it was painting. The painters were the youth leaders at the time who helped run the Friday night youth club, the Jesus Light and Power Co. The date is the early 80's. Up high, L to R, Jeff Lee, Kim Crawford and Bryan Findlayson. Down low, L to R, Sid Moir and Bruce King.

The Stanwell Park Church Committee, 1989. The Stanwell Park congregation has remained a strong and independent church to this day, always able to manage their own affairs. From left to right: Jean Anger, Ray Tinker, Marie Tinker, Molly Billings, Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Fran Grover, Bob Grover, Bob Starkey, Trish Croft, Mike Croft, Lydia Allard, Julie Druce, Reg Lobb, Carol Lobb.

Rev. Tim Harris, 1989-1995

The 1990 Helensburgh Church fete in the church yard, the site of the original Rectory.

Rev. Trevor Young, 1995